Alberta rancher wants federal money to deal with TB outbreak

A southern Alberta rancher wants federal help after a bovine tuberculosis outbreak in his cattle.

Brad Osadczuk says his business and family are hurting since his herd was placed under quarantine last month. The action came after U.S. officials found an animal from his farm was infected. Five other animals linked to his herd have also tested positive for the disease.

When the Canadian Food Inspection Agency puts herds under quarantine, producers can’t sell their livestock but must continue feeding them until the investigation is complete. There is compensation for animals that are killed, but not for other costs. The CFIA has quarantined 34 ranches in southeastern Alberta and two more in Saskatchewan as it tries to determine the source of the disease and how far it has spread.

Osadczuk plans to plead his case to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Agriculture.